Directions - Chicago Boat Tours | Chicago Architecture Foundation

Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) is located at 224 South Michigan Avenue in the Santa Fe Building, across from the Art Institute on the northwest corner of Jackson Boulevard at Michigan Avenue. Open 361 days a year and can be reached at 312.922.3432 x240.

CAF directions:
CTA rapid transit stations:
(walking distance from the following):

Metra operates 11 suburban commuter lines serving downtown Chicago.
Ending at Union Station just west of the Loop and south of the Ogilvy Transportation Center: Heritage Corridor Line, North Central Service, Southwest Service, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Milwaukee District North & West Lines.

Ending at the Ogilvy Transportation Center (formerly the Northwestern Train Station) just west of the Loop and north of Union Station: Union Pacific North Line, Northwest Line and West Line.

From these two stations it is a 20 minute walk east to Michigan Ave, or take a #20 or
#56 eastbound CTA bus on Jackson Boulevard, or connect with the free trolley shuttle.

Ending at the LaSalle Street Station: The Rock Island District Line.
Walk east on Van Buren to Michigan and then north on Michigan to Jackson.

Ending at the Randolph Street Station: The Metra Electric Line and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (South Shore Line). Get off at the Van Buren/Jackson Station (the stop before the end). From here, walk one block north on Michigan Avenue to Jackson.

Chicago’s major expressways converge just west of the Loop. Exit at Congress Avenue and proceed east (this is also the eastbound extension of I-290).

Lakeshore Drive, from Hollywood in the north to Jackson Park in the south, follows the shoreline and is east of downtown. Exit at Balbo and proceed west to Michigan Avenue.

From the west, cars should proceed east on Congress and cross Michigan Avenue (no left turn permitted at Michigan). Turn left at the turning circle immediately east of Michigan Avenue, doubling back toward Michigan Avenue. The entrance to the Grant Park South Underground Garage, operated by LAZ Parking, is on the right just before you reach Michigan Avenue. This competitively priced garage is the closest parking garage to the ArchiCenter and the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

If entering downtown from Lakeshore Drive, proceed west on Balbo and turn right (north) at Michigan Avenue. One block north (at Congress), look for the Grant Park South Underground Garage entrance on your right.
If entering downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue, entrances to the Grant Park South Underground Garage are accessible from both the northbound and southbound lanes.

Getting to the Original Architecture River Cruise
Chicago's Finest Fleet / CAF’s Original Architecture River Cruise departs from Riverside Gardens at the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive. A set of stairs descends from the street (marked by a blue awning) to the river level. There are no elevators.

Public Transit
Michigan Avenue buses stop near this intersection.

The closest CTA transit stations are State & Lake (Brown, Green, Orange & Purple Lines), State & Randolph (Red Line), and Clark & Lake (Blue Line). In each case, after exiting the station, walk east to Michigan Avenue, cross over to the east side, then walk north to the river/Michigan Avenue Bridge. Do not cross the bridge; look for the blue awning at the southeast corner. See CTA website for routes and schedules at www.transitchicago.com

By Car
From the Kennedy (I-90) and Edens (I-94) expressways, exit at Washington Street (past the Ohio Street exit). Turn left (east) on Washington Street to Michigan Avenue. Turn left (north) on Michigan Avenue and proceed to the river (East Wacker Drive). Do not cross the river. Turn right (east) on East Wacker Drive and park at 111 East Wacker Drive or continue and turn right (south) and look for a Hyatt Regency doorman at Wacker Drive and Stetson Street.

From the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), continue eastbound into the city (the Eisenhower turns into Congress) to Michigan Avenue. Turn left (north) at Michigan Avenue. Left turns are not permitted at Michigan Avenue, so cross over Michigan to the turning circle, bearing left and double back to Michigan Avenue, now turning right to head north. Continue north on Michigan Avenue until you reach East Wacker Drive just south of the river and proceed as above. Do not cross the river.
From Lakeshore Drive, take the north or south exit at Wacker Drive and continue westbound. Parking is available on your left at either the Hyatt Regency (see the doorman) at Wacker Drive and Stetson Street or at 111 E. Wacker Drive.

Discount parking available at 111 East Wacker Drive weekday evenings and any time on weekends. Parking is also available at the Monroe Street Parking Garage (underground), Columbus Drive north of Monroe. Enter at the right-hand ramp. Walk from here to Randolph and Michigan and then north to the SE corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive.

NOTE: Bring your parking ticket to the dock for discount validation.

Moving between CAF and Riverside Gardens (Official Architecture River Cruise dock location)

These locations are on Michigan Avenue. Riverside Gardens is about 1/2 mile north from the CAF Shop (224 South Michigan). If you are walking to catch a cruise, give yourself about 30 minutes to get to the dock from CAF (enough time for both the walk and the pre-boarding procedure. Cruises depart precisely on time).

If you prefer not to walk, most Michigan Avenue buses (requiring farecards or exact change). A taxi ride from the CAF Shop costs about $4.50 to the Riverside Gardens/river cruise dock.